I completely agree that school was and almost still is a game. Students seeks the easy way out or the correct way to progress. Even now I know I personally get stressed out when I don't have set guidelines on work and how much things are worth. The game has trained me to find out the worth of an assignment and to put in the effort necessary to succeed at it. But it doesn't allow me to do anymore learning than that. The sad part is that it is very true that people learn that it is a game, at least subconsciously, at an early age. If they weren't exposed to anyone else playing then maybe they would have a chance to learn for themselves and for their own enrichment. This game is infectious though. Once you start playing the pull to stay in it increases. A student will do what is asked and any more than that is considered an over achievement. Typically not looked highly upon by other students, thus more pull into the game. A child should be encouraged to go the extra mile and get the personal attention needed by a nurturing teacher. But the game makes that almost impossible, which aggravates me. Now that I can clearly see it as a silly game I just wish there was something concrete to do to fix it. I has to be joint effort between students, teachers, and administrators to learn for the sake of learning. If one falls through then the other ones can't thrive.